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USC artificial intelligence center seeks to reduce military suicides

By |May 31st, 2018|

by Marc Ballon

As suicide rates among active-duty service members and veterans continue to outpace rates among the general population, researchers from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work have joined forces to use technology to identify, as early as possible, those at risk.

The collaboration, as part of the USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, or USC CAIS, is believed to be one of the first of its kind to use artificial intelligence to model the strength or weakness of military personnel’s social networks to ascertain suicidal thinking, depression and anxiety. The […]

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Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative

By |May 2nd, 2018|

Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative
The USC Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families administers the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative, comprising hundreds of community stakeholders, agencies and representatives serving veterans and military families in Greater Los Angeles. Founded at New Directions in February 2010, and now at CIR since March 2012, this collective-impact approach […]

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CIR director discusses value of military social work

By |March 29th, 2018|

March is Social Work Month and Carl Castro, associate professor and director of the Military and Veterans Programs at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, discusses what makes the USC military social work program so unique and why it’s important—now more than ever—to keep building the ranks of behavioral health providers with competent individuals who can effectively treat service members, veterans and their families.

 

Below are some highlights from the audio:
On the importance of military social work after almost two decades of conflict:
Seventeen years. Millions of service members is what we’re talking about and we are nowhere even meeting […]

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Testing Working Group

By |March 15th, 2018|

Behavioral Health Working Group
The Behavioral Health Working Group consists of agencies, social workers, family therapists, and practitioners who provide behavioral health support to veterans and their families throughout Los Angeles. The working group is centered on identifying the unique needs and challenges veterans have for accessing behavioral healthcare as well as identifying best practices for […]

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Prudential – USO discuss importance of financial readiness for transition

By |February 22nd, 2018|

Earlier this month, the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families held a two-day summit to discuss the issue of financial readiness for transition from military to civilian life. Experts from the financial sector, government and academia gathered to discuss the state of current programs and research. In recent years, Prudential and the USO have partnered to provide financial curriculum that can address the needs. Chuck Sevola and Jim Beamesderfer from Prudential and Kylee Durant of the USO discuss their partnership and how it is addressing a critical need.

 

Financial wellness in terms of transition is a very […]

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USC summit spotlights key area for veteran success: financial readiness

By |February 16th, 2018|

Financial wellness is essential for veterans to find success after leaving the military, but research shows many are unprepared for the new challenges of civilian life.

For many veterans, this new chapter marks the first time they’ll have to pay and budget for food, housing, insurance and more.

In an effort to address this issue, the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families (CIR) at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, along with Prudential, held a two-day summit Feb. 8-9 at the Radisson Hotel at USC that brought together the expertise of individuals in the financial sector, […]

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From Our Director: This Thanksgiving, remember those still serving

By |November 21st, 2017|

by Carl Castro

With Thanksgiving upon us, it’s that time of year when many of us reflect on our blessings and appreciate the things we have, the people in our lives and that we are able to live freely in the United State of America. As we pause to give thanks for being able to spend quality time with those we love, let’s not forget those who are not so lucky.

There are those who have made the ultimate sacrifice dying for their country. Their families will be celebrating the holidays without their loved ones.

Let us also remember that there are still […]

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Breaking down walls and building connections with military-connected families

By |November 14th, 2017|

For Military Family Appreciation Month, we’re shining a spotlight on those who provide support and care to military-connected individuals.

Eugenia L. Weiss, clinical associate professor and director of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work Orange County Academic Center, previously spent 18 years in private practice as a civilian working with military personnel and their families. She played an instrumental role in launching the school’s military social work track.

Weiss has also authored a number of journal articles and co-edited military and veteran families as well as higher education for veterans, making her uniquely positioned to provide insights on the unique […]

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From Our Director: Who is a Veteran

By |November 10th, 2017|

by Carl Castro

The United States’ definition of a veteran defies common sense. Not everyone who serves in the U.S. military is a veteran.

For example, if you served two, three or four combat tours, screwed up and used marijuana over the weekend and then tested positive for THC the following Monday, you could be kicked out of the military with a bad conduct discharge or worse. You would be ineligible to receive any VA or state benefits, and most nonprofits who support veterans couldn’t provide much assistance either. You are not a veteran.

Similarly, a National Guardsman or Reservist who might have […]

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From Our Director: Double Standards in the Military

By |October 27th, 2017|

by Carl Castro

Double standards exist in the military. Anyone who has served knows this. I am not talking about privileges and responsibilities associated with rank, but rather about differences in accepted moral and ethical standards based on rank.

Senior officers who misuse government funds or sexually assault female subordinates are allowed to retire from the service at the rank they last served “honorably.” In contrast, a sergeant, who has served two combat tours, yet whose urine sample tests positive for an illegal drug will likely be fined, tried and ultimately dishonorably discharged from the military. No attempt will be made to […]

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